Embark on a captivating 4-hour bicycle journey that takes you through two contrasting neighborhoods on either side of the iconic Chao Phraya River. Experience the rich diversity of local life as you cycle through the vibrant alleyways of Rattanakosin and the serene elevated pathways of Thonburi.
Starting at our Tha Phra Chan office, you’ll explore the narrow streets of Rattanakosin, Bangkok’s historical heart and cultural birthplace. Immerse yourself in its storied charm as you ride through local communities and catch glimpses of traditional Thai life.
Then, cross the river to discover Thonburi, a tranquil and lesser-known area with a laid-back vibe and a slower pace of life.
Feel the shift in atmosphere as you navigate Thonburi’s disappearing neighborhoods, where stilt houses stand as they have for generations. Elevated pathways replace roads and alleys, offering an up-close view of a unique way of life. Challenge your cycling skills on these winding paths and soak in the warm smiles of locals who greet you from their porches, sharing meals or chatting with neighbors.
Along the way, enjoy a well-deserved break with snacks from traditional family-run shops. Dive deeper into Thai culture as you visit local landmarks and gain a richer understanding of the community’s daily life.
Conclude your adventure with a delicious Thai-style meal at a local restaurant before cycling back, completing an unforgettable experience of the REAL Bangkok.
Due to the ever changing cityscape, festivals and overall dynamic character of Bangkok we don't have a pre-defined routing that is "set in stone" making each day a new adventure for all of us.
We recommend this program for adults and teenagers. Due to the layout/landscape/characteristics of the local communities, this program requires slightly better cycle skills than our other programs.
We pride ourselves in being an alternative to the standard tourist experience by taking our customers "off the beaten path" to show them the REAL Bangkok, away from Bangkok’s typical mass tourism attractions (Grand Palace, Wat Arun, Wat Pho etc). We go behind the scenes into the local communities to places that are typically inaccessible to the average traveler, where our individual fascinations emerge.
During the 4 hours of exploring, we will have a light meal at a family-owned local restaurant. This meal will typically take place in the second half of the tour. Vegetarian and dietary options are also available, just notify your guide before the start of the tour.
Joining one of our bicycle tours in Bangkok is a surprisingly refreshing adventure year round as most cycling is taking place in shadowed places. The activity of cycling (as opposed to walking), will always create a breeze to help cool you down. We are also aided by the fact that Bangkok terrain is inherently very flat and we cycle at a leisurely pace. In addition, plenty of cold drinks and rest stops along the way will keep you refreshed for the journey.
The weather in Bangkok is unpredictable and rain can occur at any time, especially during the rainy season of July-September. Rain is also a very localized phenomenon, happening in small pockets in places while being completely dry only a few kilometers away. In our vast experience doing the tours, we know that heavy rains rarely last more than 30 minutes and our guides know very well where to take our customers for cover during the deluge.
The vast majority of our guides are English speaking local Thais.
By design, our tours do not contain much talking. Our philosophy is to focus more on the interactive experience of cycling within the local community rather than presentations about facts, figures, or history. In that respect, language does not play a large factor in your tour experience, and it is unlikely that you will feel like you've missed out on anything by not having a native language guide.
On our tours we are guests at local and more conservative communities, including temples. Please allow us to ask you to dress more conservatively out of respect for the local community. A top that covers the shoulders and a sarong for covering the legs in a temple is always appreciated in Thai culture.
We recommend you wear light, comfortable clothing with a hat to keep the sun off your head. For footwear, we recommend closed shoes or sports sandals for maximum protection and control during your tour. For your own safety, we discourage the use of ‘flip flops’ as they often compromise the ability of the rider to control his/her bicycle on the tour. The liberal use of sunscreen is also highly encouraged.
Our tours are on an all-in basis and there is no need to bring any food or drinks. You may however want to think consider bringing the following:
We have designed our own custom yellow Co van Kessel city bikes to give our guests the ultimate local Bangkok experience. This means our bicycles are comfortable delivering a straight-up position to look around, open frame to easily step on/off,
All of our bikes are adjustable in size and we have bikes suitable for people of all sizes. Due to the nature of the experience, we have regular adult bikes only.
Regular bikes
Suitable for heights of+/- 156 - 210 cm
For children bicycles and more information on children on our bike tours, please read our dedicated blog posts about kids.
On our tours we do NOT cycle on main roads with traffic. Following our concept we go off the beaten path, use back roads, alleyways and footpaths (for nearly 95% of the tour). We cycle at a leisurely pace and make frequent stops at local, interesting destinations along the way.
That being said, we do cycle through narrow alleyways and upon raised footpaths over water, so a certain level of balance and comfort on a bike is required. This tour involves navigating several elevated and small pathways requiring confident cycling skills. For safety reasons, it is not recommended for young children or non-experienced cyclists.
For your comfort and safety, helmets for adults and children are readily available free of charge and optional; please feel free to take one if you wish.
From the beginning (early 1990’s) we have made a conscious decision to support the communities we cycle through and base our decisions upon this philosophy. ‘Sharing is caring’ is embedded in Thai culture and Buddhist beliefs.
“We cycle with our heart, not our feet.”
Chanmanee Phonphakdee
Co-Founder
Chief Happiness Officer & Community Manager
We accept all international payment methods (Credit Card, iDeal, Sofort etc) on our website. For cash payments at our office please select ‘’booking inquiry only’’ on the booking form. Cancelations up to 24 hours before departing time receive a 100% refund.
Children under the age of 12 years old that cycle themselves receive a 25% discount on the adult price. Kids joining in a baby- or child-seat are joining free of charge.
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Co van Kessel Bangkok tours operates this experience from our office at River City Bangkok. We are located on the ground floor (outside mall entrance) to the right of the main mall entrance.
We are conveniently located on the banks of the Chao Phraya River and near Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong train- and MRT subway station.
Read more detailed directions on how to reach us on our 'how-to-find-us-page'.
Co van Kessel Bangkok tours operates this tour from our Tha Phra Chan office at Bangkok's old town Rattanakosin. Located in the Phra Chan pier only 5 minutes walk from the Royal Field (Sanam Luang) between the Grand Palace and Khao San Road.
Read more detailed directions on how to reach us on our 'how-to-find-us-page'.